The vacant featherweight title will be on the line when CES MMA returns to Rhode Island in August.

UFC veteran Sean Soriano (11-5) will take on Bruce Boyington (15-11) for the vacant 145-pound strap at CES MMA 51, the promotion announced today. The event takes place at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., on Aug. 3. The main card airs on AXS TV.

The title fight is the first added to the card, and it has not yet been announced whether it will be the main event.

Soriano, who was born in nearby Providence, R.I., has won back-to-back fights under the CES MMA banner. He finished Jacob Bohn with a second-round knockout from kicks at CES MMA 44 in May 2017. And in April this year, he submitted Jonathan Gary just 81 seconds into their fight at CES MMA 49.

Soriano’s resume includes a trio of fights in the UFC, though all three bouts were setbacks to Tatsuya Kawajiri, Chas Skelly and Charles Rosa. But now he has a chance to add some hardware.

“Rhode Island is my home, and I want to be the king of my home,” Soriano stated. “Winning this belt puts me there. CES is one of the best promotions out there. It would be an honor to wear that belt around my waist.”

Boyington, from Maine, was on a three-fight skid. But in February, under the NEF banner, he rebounded with a third-round submissino of Taylor Trahan in a 150-pound catchweight fight. His resume includes three fights for WSOF, where he went 2-1, with wins over Saul Almeida and Rodrigo Almeida.

“At this point in my career, I feel like we’ve come full circle and I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” Boyington stated. “Everyone should expect the very best Bruce Boyington that’s ever been seen in the cage. I’m excited to show everyone what I’m capable of, especially against a well-respected UFC vet like Sean Soriano.”